Henry g



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY G. PLUMB, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

wmoow PROVISION-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 620,176, dated February 28, 1899. Application filed May 19, I898. Serial No. 681,130. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY GRANT PLUMB,

of the city and county of New York, State of My'invention comprehends a convenient receptacle for food, &c., adapted to upper floors and flats of buildings, which can be placed outside and below the window-frame, wherein provisions can bekept when the temperature is cool, and also in warm weather by employing a suitable refrigerant, such as ice.

My improvements embody a device of this character, broadly considered, in which there is a frame fixed in stationary position to the window-sill on the outside ofthe building, adjacent thereto, and upon which a suitable provision-box is adapted to be vertically guided with or without additional means for counterbalancing the same, so as to permit it to be more easy of vertical adjustment upon the fixed frame. More particularly, the box is adjusted to the window-sill upon a suitable support or frame, upon which it slides up and down. By a catch on the projecting cover it can be attached to the window-sash, so that in raising the sash the box is lifted into position before the opening of the window, making it easy of access from inside the room. The frame can be adapted so as to be fastened firmly to or removed from the sill, as desired.

In the preferred form of my box I provide the stationary frame with oblique guides ap proaching the Window-sill and whereby the box is caused to move bodily nearer to the Window-opening as it is raised. I furthermore provide suitable spring devices for counterbalancing the provision-box with its lid, the same forming a connection between the box and the stationary frame, whereby the box, with its contents, may be lifted with very little exertionv and all jarring or excessive strain be practically removed upon lowering the box. When' springs are employed in the manner hereinafter disclosed for this purpose, they act as cushioning devices for taking up the downward thrust of the box when the same is lowered.

My invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in

Figure 1 is an elevation showing the inside of the box and cover, front view, with the box in raised position or open for access. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. 3 is a top or plan view with the box closed down or lowered on the frame, and Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the box and frame fastened to a window-sill and the inside edge of cover attached to the window-sash.

A is the provision-box and is adapted to move upward and downward upon the stationaryframe B. This movement may be vertical or oblique, as desired, though in the particular illustration I have shown it as a slightly oblique movement. The frame B may be made of iron or other suitable material and fastened to the sill or house-wall, as desired. If it is to be fastened to a stone sill, suitable clamping jaws may be provided, which receive the sill and have movable clamping parts adapted to grip the same. In the particular illustration of this part of my improvements 1 have shown these movable clamping portions as comprising a movable claw a, adapted to press directly upon the under side of the sill, and a wedge or, adapted to be driven in under the claw for the purpose of forcing it upward. The wedge may be formed with a head whereby to withdraw it when necessary. These parts are arranged in a recess upon the opposite or lateral edges of the frame B, as clearly illustrated. As a further precaution to prevent accidental disengagement, the upper part of the frame B may be provided with lateral projecting lugs .11, through which screws may be passed for attachment to the wooden window-sill, as will be readily understood. The position of the frame B upon the window-sill is clearly shown in Fig. 4. This frame B, while preferably formed of cast-iron galvanized,may be formed of wood, if so desired, having suitable supporting-clamps attached thereto in place of being formed integral therewith. 1

The box A may have one or more shelves, as desired, and formed of galvanized sheet- Fig.

iron or wood, as preferred. It is inclosed on the sides and back and when raised is open at the front or that part which faces the window-opening. Its forward edges are provided with lateral projecting flanges s, preferably arranged on an incline and adapted to suitable guide-grooves Z in the sides of the frame B, which guides are also inclined. In this manner the box A is guided upward and downward on the frame 13 and in being raised is caused to approach nearer to the windowframe to secure more ready access thereto and also to facilitate the operation in connection with the window-sash when a connection therewith is employed. It is to be understood that I do not confine myself to the obliquity of these guiding edges, as the box A might of course rise at any angle desired, vertically or otherwise.

0 is the lid, hinged at c to the rear portion of the box A. This lid is preferably formed of sheet metal and may be attached to an inner cast-metal frame 0' for strength and rigidity. The inner edge F of the sheet metal is brought forward and slightly inclined upward to preferably shed the rain. The upper part of the box A is preferably inclined, so that the lid when closed will act as an inclined roof to permit the rain to freely pass off. hen the box A is lowered, as indicated in Fig. t, it will be seen that the overlapping of the lid at the top will enable it to extend over the sill and window-frame to a position close to the window-sash. A connection may be made between the cover 0 and the window-sash by means of screw-eyes N, fastened to the sash, this connection being made by spring-catches 7c, carried by the cover and adapted to be received in suitable holes in the casting C, as shown.

Pivoted at t' i to the lower part E of the box A are two .rods f f, the lower parts of which pass through openings in the side portions of the frame B at h h. Springs j j are placed about the rods f f and are adapted to be received against the side walls of the frame B and be put under compression when the box A is lowered.

(Z d are upright connecting-bars pivoted at e e to the lid or cover 0 and connected, respectively, at the lower ends with the upper free ends of the rods ff.

When the box is in the lowest position, as indicated in Fig. 4, the springs and rods will be as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. When in this position, the springs j j will be under compression. If we now raise the sash, the action will be to first lift the cover 0 to the position relative to the box indicated in Fig. 2. The effect of this is to also raise the box A and bring the springs and rods into such a position that their elasticity may come into play to assist in lifting the box with its lid. If the springs are properly proportioned, there will be little or no strain in raising the sash and the box. \Vhen the reverse opera tion takes place, the downward action of the rods f cause them to act as levers and move the box A downward until it reaches its lowermost position, at which time the lid will be fully closed and the springs and rods will be moved to the dotted position, Fig. 1, in which case the tendency of the springs may be to lock the box. In the first movement of the lifting action the lid 0 acts as a lever andits points 6 0 both rise, but the former much more rapidly. In view of the leverage thus secured the weight of the box and its contents is readily overcome and the same elevated sufficiently to permit the springs j and rods f to be brought to a position suitable for exerting their power to tend to lift the box. The construction here shown is a simple one and at the same time inexpensive; but it is understood that I do not confine myself to any devices for counteracting the action of gravity in a box of this character, as any well-known counterweights and guides, such as employed in windows, may be used in lieu of the rods and springs shown, if so desired. Furthermore, it is not necessary that the lid 0 shall be movable with regard to the box A, though I prefer that it shall be made so, asindicated in the drawings.

An additional tension-spring 7.: may be employed between the lower parts of the rods ff, if so desired, to assist in the lifting action of said rods. This spring, however, is simply an adjunct and may be used in addition to the springs j j. It is also evident that by properly proportioning it it might be used and at the same time dispense with the springs j j, all of which will be readily understood.

While I prefer the construction shown, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the minor details, as they may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a window provision-box, the combination of a fixed frame having long upright guides arranged upon the outside of the window, and a vertically-adjustable provisionbox movable so as to slide upon said upright guides whereby it may be moved into position in front of the window-opening or out of such a position.

2. In awindow provision-box, the combination of a fixed frame having upright guides arranged upon the outside of the Window, a vertically-adjustable provision-box movable upon said upright guides whereby it may be moved into position in front of the windowopening or out of such a position, and suitable counterbalancing devices interposed between the box and the stationary frame whereby the weight of the former may be counterbalanced to a greater or less extent.

3. In a window provision-box, the combination of a fixed frame having upright guides arranged upon the outside of the window, a vertically-adjustable provision-box movable upon said upright guides whereby it may be moved into position in front of the windowopening or out of such a position, and suitable counterbalancing devices interposed between the box and the stationary frame consisting of levers each jointed respectively to the box and connected to the stationary frame and provided with springs adapted to be put under compression by the action of said levers when lowering the box, whereby the weight of the former may be counterbalanced to a greater or less extent.

4. In a window provision-box, the combination of a fixed frame having upright guides arranged upon the outside of the window, a vertically-adjustable provision-box movable upon said upright guides whereby it may be moved into position in front of the windowopening or out of such a position, a pivoted lid to the box, connections between the lid and the box to limit the opening of the lid, counterbalancing devices between the box and the stationary frame adapted to be thrown practically out of operation when the box is fully lowered and put into active operation by the raising of the lid when elevating the box.

5. In awindowprovision-box, the combination of a fixed frame having upright guides arranged upon the outside of the window, a vertically-adjustable provision-box movable upon said upright guides whereby it may be moved into position in front of the windowopening or out of such a position, and means attached to the box for connection with the window-sash, whereby the raising and lowering of the window-sash will also insure the raising and lowering'of the box upon its stationary guides.

6. In a window provision-box, the combination of a frame having upright guides, a box movable up and down upon said guides, a hinged cover to the top of the box, andlever connections between the hinged lid the provision-box and the stationary frame whereby the raising of the lid also tends to raise the box upon the guides.

7. In awindow provision-box, the combination of a frame having upright guides, a box movable up and down upon said guides, a hinged cover to the top of the box, lever connections between the hinged lid the provisionbox and the stationary frame whereby the raising of the lid also tends to raise the box upon the guides, and counterbalancing means for assisting in raising the box.

8. A provision-box arranged below the window-sill on the outside, combined with means attached to the window-sill for supporting it, and a cover hinged to the box and extending inwardly over the window-sill and close to the window-sash.

9. In a window provision-box,a frame adapted to be attached to the outside of the window structure having long oblique guides, in combination with a provision-box having slid ing guide portions guided upon said oblique guides and adapted to be moved up or down whereby when the box is raised it is caused to move toward the window.

10. In a window provision-box, the combination of a frame provided with clampingjaws adapted to be clamped upon the windowsill, and a provision-box movable up and down upon said frame.

11. In a window provision-box, the combination of a stationary frame adapted for attachment to the window-sill, a provision-box movable thereon, rods f, f pivoted to the provision-box at 2' and extending through guideslots h in the stationary frame, and counterbalancing-springs j upon said rods for sustaining the weight of the provision-box.

12. In a window provision-box, the combination of a stationary frame adapted for attachment to the window-sill, a provision-box movable thereon, rods f, f pivoted to the provision-box at t and extending through guideslots h in the stationary frame, counterbalancing-springs j upon said rods for sustaining the weight of the provision-box, and a connecting-spring 70 near the lower ends of the rods f, f to assist the springs j in liftingthe box.

13. In a window provision-box, the combination of a stationary frame adapted for attachment to the window-sill, a provision-box movable thereon, rods f, f pivoted to the provision-box at i and extending through guideslots h in the stationary frame, counterbalancing-springsj upon said rods for sustaining the weight of the provision-box, a lid hinged to the box, and connecting-links (1 leading from the lid at a distance from its hinge and connecting with the upper ends of the rods f, f at a distance beyond the pivots z' thereof.

14. In a window provision-box, the combination of a frame adapted to attachment to the window structure, a provision-box connected to said frame so as to be guided in its elevation relatively thereto, and counterbalancing devices for the box forming a connection between the frame and the box.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

HENRY G. PLUMB.

Witnesses:

RICHARD J. OoRooRAN, JOSEPH L. JOHNSON. 

